Blow Off Valve and Related System and Method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a blowoff valve assembly that utilizes a non-coiled spring for biasing a valve member in a compact space. The invention is further directed to a turbocharger system utilizing a blowoff valve with a non-coiled spring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blowoff valve for a turbocharger of an internal
 combustion engine, comprising:   a valve body defining an air inlet and an air outlet with an internal passage extending therebetween;   a valve member arranged in the internal passage and movable into an airflow restricting position in which airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet is restricted thereby; and   a non-coiled spring biasing the valve member into the airflow restricting position; and wherein   air pressure at the air inlet above a blowoff threshold will move the valve member out of the restricting position permitting airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The blowoff valve of  claim 1 , wherein the non-coiled spring comprises a wave spring. 
     
     
         3 . The blowoff valve of  claim 2 , wherein the non-compressed length of the non-coiled wave spring is about 10 mm to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The blowoff valve of  claim 3 , wherein the non-compressed length of the non-coiled wave spring is about 20 mm to about 40 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The blowoff valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure control connector extending from the valve body for regulating vacuum pressure within the valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The blowoff valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is configured to at least partially surround the non-coiled spring therein. 
     
     
         7 . The blowoff valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member includes a spring seat having a first surface for the non-coiled spring to contact and bias the valve member. 
     
     
         8 . The blowoff valve of  claim 7 , wherein the valve body further defines a valve cover positioned relative to the spring seat for providing a second surface for the non-coiled spring to contact and bias the valve member. 
     
     
         9 . The blowoff valve of  claim 8 , wherein the distance between the first surface and the second surface is in a range of about 10 mm to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The blowoff valve of  claim 9 , wherein the distance between the first surface and the second surface is in a range of about 12 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The blowoff valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes an internal wall defining a spring chamber separate from the internal passage, the non-coiled spring being arranged therein. 
     
     
         12 . The blowoff valve of  claim 11 , wherein the spring chamber has a length of about 10 mm to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The blowoff valve of  claim 12 , wherein the spring chamber has a length of about 12 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The blowoff valve of  claim 11 , wherein the internal wall defines a stem passage therethrough, and the valve member includes a valve stem having a spring seat, the spring seat being located in the spring chamber and the valve stem passing through the stem passage into the internal passage. 
     
     
         15 . The blowoff valve of  claim 11 , wherein the internal wall further defines at least one port hole for providing equalization of pressure in the internal passage and the spring chamber. 
     
     
         16 . A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine,
 the system comprising:   the blowoff valve of  claim 1 ; and   a turbocharger compressor, the compressor comprising an air input for receiving air into the compressor and an air output for expelling compressed air from the compressor;   wherein the air inlet of the blowoff valve is in communication with the air output of the compressor such that air pressure at the air inlet above a blowoff threshold will move the valve member out of the restricting position permitting airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the blowoff valve further comprises a pressure control connector interconnected with the manifold of the engine for regulating vacuum pressure between the manifold and the valve body. 
     
     
         18 . A blowoff valve comprising:
 a valve body defining an air inlet, an access port, and an air outlet with an internal passage extending therebetween;   a valve cover removably attached to the valve body in covering alignment with the access port;   a valve member arranged in the internal passage and movable into an airflow restricting position in which airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet is restricted thereby; and   a non-coiled spring biasing the valve member into the airflow restricting position;   wherein air pressure at the air inlet above a blowoff threshold will move the valve member out of the restricting position permitting airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet.   
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a compact blowoff valve, comprising:
 providing a valve body defining an air inlet, an access port, and an air outlet with an internal passage extending therebetween;   arranging a valve member comprising a spring seat in the internal passage such that it is movable into an airflow restricting position in which airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet is restricted thereby;   positioning a non-coiled spring within the internal passage such that a first end of the non-coiled spring abuts the spring seat and is capable of biasing the valve member into the airflow restricting position; and   attaching a valve cover to the valve body in covering alignment with the access port and opposite the spring seat such that it contacts a second end of the non-coiled spring; wherein air pressure at the air inlet above a blowoff threshold will move the valve member out of the restricting position permitting airflow between the air inlet and the air outlet during operation of the assembled blowoff valve.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the length of the internal passage of the valve body is from about 12 mm to about 20 mm measured from the spring seat of the valve member to the valve cover when the non-coiled spring is biasing the valve member into the airflow restricting position, and wherein the uncompressed length of the non-coiled spring biasing the valve member is from about 20 mm to about 40 mm.